Bill Bass
| Date of birth | 1921 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Date of death | (aged 45) |
| Place of death | Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada |
| Career information | |
| CFL status | International |
| Position(s) | RB |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Weight | 180 lb (82 kg) |
| College | University of Nevada, Reno & Tennessee State University |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1947 | Chicago Rockets |
| 1948 | Montreal Alouettes |
| 1950–53 | Toronto Argonauts |
| 1954 | Ottawa Rough Riders |
| 1955 | Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| CFL All-Star | 1951 |
| Honors | Grey Cup champion - 1950 & 1952 |
| Career stats | |
| |
William "Billy" Bass (1921 – September 28, 1967) was an all-star and Grey Cup champion running back in the Canadian Football League and one of the first players to break the colour barrier in Canadian football.[1]
Bass attended University of Nevada, Reno and Tennessee State University, and was surrounded in controversy when a Nevada, Reno game was canceled because Mississippi State University's football team would not play them because Bass (and another teammate) were "Negroes".[2] He started his pro career with the Chicago Rockets of the AAFC, where in 1947 he rushed for 44 yards and caught 8 passes for 79 yards. He then moved to Canada, where he played 11 games with the Montreal Alouettes.[3] After trying out with the Rockets in 1949, he then moved on to the Toronto Argonauts where he would play 45 regular season and 9 playoff games in 4 seasons, also being selected an All-Star in 1951.[4] He was also part of their 1950 and 1952 Grey Cup teams. Import player rules cost him his position with the Boatmen, but he played 1954 with the Ottawa Rough Riders[5] and was player coach with the Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers in his final season.
Bill Bass was one of the first group of African-American players to break the colour barrier in Canadian football, following the path blazed by Herb Trawick. He died September 28, 1967, at the age of 45.
References
- ↑ CFLAPEDIA Entry : Bill Bass
- ↑ Negroes Banned, Tilt Canceled by Nevada, The Milwaukee Journal - November 5, 1946
- ↑ Montreal Alouettes All-Time Roster
- ↑ 2009 Toronto Argonauts Media Guide
- ↑ Ottawa Rough Rider Player Database